Web Master
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is set to sue the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) after rejecting parts of the Commission’s report on the issuance of the $2.25 billion bond.
CHRAJ was petitioned by a member of the Minority, Yaw Brongya Genfi, to investigate the bond on grounds that Mr. Ofori Atta attempted to promote a personal interest for himself, his friends and family.
Although the Finance Minister was cleared of engaging in any conflict of interest in the issuance of the bond, the Commission found him guilty of some infractions in the process.
CHRAJ noted that he “is either a director, former director or shareholder, or beneficial owner, of several companies whose objects relate to the securities market sector”.
However, addressing the media, Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, has disclosed that the Finance Minister will drag CHRAJ to court over its handling of the conflict of interest petition brought before it.
According to him, CHRAJ went “beyond the matter of conflict of interest to make pronouncements on other matters that it was not seized with the capacity to make.”
He continued that the lawsuit has become necessary because the Commission, in its report, overstepped its mandate by passing comments on the actual bond issue.
“CHRAJ can only make pronouncements on conflict of interest situations and not issues to do with the bond issuance and its ancillary subjects,” Mr. Hamid said.
“We find that it is these extraneous matters which CHRAJ commented on, which have become the ammunition with which the NDC has started a new round of attacks. We hereby serve notice that Ken Ofori-Atta will proceed to the courts immediately to seek to set aside those extraneous matters in the CHRAJ report,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament have been mounting pressure on President Akufo-Addo to sack the Finance Minister.
Speaking at a news conference, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said President Akufo-Addomust sack the minister or they will initiate processes to have him removed from his position through a motion of censure per Article 82 of the constitution.
“We serve notice that in event that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo does not exercise appropriate judgement, we will initiate an action of censorship against the Minister. We in the minority feel strongly vindicated by the [CRHAJ] report… All of us must uphold the laws of Ghana including the Minister for Finance,” he said.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings